In short, Milkha Singh lived in many places, but his true home was the open road—the race track where he overcame the ghosts of his past to become a legend of India.
After retiring from athletics and a brief career as a Director of Sports in Punjab, Milkha Singh settled permanently in . He lived in a beautiful farmhouse in Sector 8 , a quiet, leafy neighborhood of the city. This was the home he shared with his wife, former volleyball captain Nirmal Kaur (known as "Nimmi"), and where they raised their golfer-son, Jeev Milkha Singh. Surrounded by his trophies, photographs, and a sprawling garden, this is where Milkha Singh spent the last five decades of his life, receiving guests, sharing his story, and running every morning until his late 80s. He passed away here on June 18, 2021, due to complications from COVID-19. Summary: A Life Mapped by Resilience | Location | Period | Significance | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Govindpura, Pakistan | 1929-1947 | Birthplace; idyllic childhood home lost to Partition. | | Delhi (Purana Qila, Red Fort) | 1947-1951 | Refugee camp; home of his darkest days and survival. | | Ambala Cantonment | 1951-1954 | Army barracks; where he became a runner. | | Chandigarh (Sector 16) | 1954-1960 | Sports hostel & track; where he trained for world records. | | Melbourne, Rome, Tokyo | 1956-1964 | Temporary Olympic & Games Villages; arenas of his glory. | | Sector 8, Chandigarh | 1964-2021 | His final, peaceful home with his family. | where did milkha singh live
After the horrors of Partition, a traumatized and orphaned Milkha Singh found himself at a refugee camp in . For a time, this was his "home"—a tent city of displaced millions. He later moved briefly to a relative’s house in Karol Bagh , but unable to cope with his grief and poverty, he ran away. He lived on the streets, near the Red Fort , and took up odd jobs, including washing dishes at a halwai (sweet shop) and working at a railway station. Delhi was not a permanent home, but a crucible of suffering that forged his resilience. 3. Ambala Cantonment – The Birthplace of the Athlete Period: 1951 – 1954 In short, Milkha Singh lived in many places,